Wichita eagle., 1887-01-09
WOMAN AND HOME.
HINTS ON THE TRAINING or
CHILDREN IN GOOD MANNERS.

What 3I2O Did in Thousand Island
Cottage-The Wife's Pocket Joney-An
Honored TitIe-Don't Blind the Babies.
Paragraphs, Etc.
Some one has wisely said: THE teachings
Of childhood are the corner stones On which
10 build the foundations of character. Ii
tbesc are laid in wisdom and faithfIlness, We
amy look to see the superstructure rounded
and beautiied by the lesson Of lies expert
e1re"
The training of children in good manners
must &c founded on respect and o5e Hence.
But authority should be enforced by parents
without destroying thu self-respect of the
child Every boy and girl hes an innate
sense of what is just, and cannot lLten TO un-
kind words without first being wounded and
then hardened. Nothing has so much power
with children as love. Be kind and gentle
with them; let them know how dear they are,
and 1t VIII be an easy task to control then.
They should always lie governed mildly, yet
firmly, thus retaining their respect and love;
Ind even very young children VIII learn to
dread their parents disPleasure through the
fear OF losing their affection.
To speak the truth, to respect age, to pro-
tect the weas, to lie ulseliish and fOrbearl,g
with others, 10 be ashamed of nothing e-l, cpt
wrong doing are the first lessons children
should be taught, and it VIII then be easy TO
train them ii good manners. II Is not enough
to teach simply; there must lie tho example Of
the daily life to enforce the lessons, and surely
no motive can make 50 forcible an appeal 70
the parents heart il favor of self-discip!iac
as the desire for the welfare Of their children.
There is no soul SO full of the graces of youth
as the mother spirit that has gone through
a long and useful life wrapped il the love OF
her children.
It is best, in rearing a large family of chill
dren, to give them as much liberty as is con-
sistent with good management, and to make
as few rules Of obedience az possible, AID
then TO enforce those given to the very letter.
ReproOfs should never bs administered IN the
presence Of others, particularly to proud,
sensitive children, as they do more harm than
good By causing unnecessary humiliation.
The child who is thus respected by its mother
or father is very "a 10 preserve its self-rc-
spect through life, and avoid doing aught
that would incur censure.
In training children in good manners,
mothers often mistake al overflow Of spirits,
a natural playfulness Of healthy childhood,
for rudenesS, and in subdmng and correcting
these seeming faults, rob the little ones OF
wholesome exercije and a large share of the
sunshine OF their lives. There is q time for
playing, and even noisy outdoor sports, that
develop the young muscles and strengthen
the fast growing bodies, and children should
not be deprived Of this privilege Of their
childhood. The essential things 70 be taught
them in play is to respect each others rights,
to protect the weak, and to be fair even il
their sports Moral courage should be cult
waited in children by teaching them always to
say boldly and DO bravely what they believe
is true and right, regardless Of consequences.
There is something knightly in the heart OF
every boy, so.nething helpful ard wOalenly
in the heart of every girl" and thase Cuali-
ties chould be developed. The syInpathics Of
children are quickly aroused, and can be
rightly directed to their great benefit.
Pets are 2 great source OF pleasure 10
children, and the possession OF them awakcns
and increases the ckivslrous spirit which en-
larces the heart and ennobles the character
The care of a dog, q lamb Or goat trains a
bog in all that is nsnly; while The pet kitten
or bird gives the little girl a sense Of rcspon-
eihility and teaches her kindness to the help
less.
1sothing is more damoralizing than quar-
rclng, and children should never be per
rlitted to dispute among themsslves; but if
they are early taught forbe,rance and IN
solfshncs, in their conp,nionship with each
other, this breach Of good manners viii never
be the occasion OF pain TO the parents. Han
rcfs acquired in childhood arc usually TO
tanned, becoming as they do, part Of thc
character, not to be put esidoat viii. Some
parents fancy that it is the duty CT teachers
to improve and form the manners Of their
c!fsslren, and leave the TASK 10 them rather
thar burden themselves with Il, but al wise
mothers should know that home is the best
school for correcting faults and acquiring tho
sclF-c0ntrol which IS essential 10 elegance ard
case Of manner.
Few parents, however, ever anxious for the
welfare of their young families, comprehend
ffle influence Of companions for good o. evil
The choice Of chldrcn'5 associates should never
IL Ier. to accident, but should be Carefully
selected from among thos9 whose behavior IS
in every respect becoming. Nothing VIII 50
readily iiiure the manners OF even tha most
carefully reared children IS the conSt Gnt COM
ranicnshio Of nc rude and iil-hrel. Next TO
evil associates comes tho influence OF books,
1aauy Of which are d7rs. roa5 in their ten
Gsnaies, giving children faIse yiews Of life,
and cont ibuting very greatly 20 forming
manners W i:ch arc neither beconing nor at
tlnctive in real l;fe, though they may seem 50
30 thu youthful readers. Bat, willis evilmay
result from indiscriminate reading, when care
fully selected books may greatly aid mother
in her efforts to cultivate pleasing manners in
hor chjIdron.-Irs. Eliza r. Parker IL Good
HOus ekeeping.